Contact: Nora Naughton, nora.naughton@sierraclub.org, 248-345-1456
Lansing – The Michigan Strategic Fund Board today purposely dismissed the growing opposition to the dangerous Copperwood Mine project near the Upper Peninsula’s Porcupine Mountains by voting to approve $50 million in public funding before virtual attendees could make their comments.
Following in-person comments, the MSF Board voted to move virtual comments to the end of the meeting. This meant more than 100 people who signed up to speak to the board, many of whom were likely from the UP and unable to drive the 8 hours to Lansing, were not given the opportunity to be heard until after a decision was already made.
“We’re deeply disappointed by the MSF Board’s decision to approve public funding for the Copperwood Mine project before hearing all of the public’s comments on the issue,” said Tim Minotas, Legislative & Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Time and time again, people of the UP and Michiganders across the state have spoken up to oppose the Copperwood Mine project. To see so many of those voices silenced today angers and disappoints us, but also renews our resolve to protect the Porkies and Lake Superior.”
The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter and the people of the Western UP have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of the Copperwood Mine proposal for years. This reckless underground mining project is all but guaranteed to leech toxic waste into Lake Superior in the event of a dam failure. This doesn’t just risk our precious fresh water resources, it endangers a nearly $360 million tourism industry that supports more than 3,000 jobs across the Western UP.
“In an area where many of our livelihoods depend on tourism revenue driven by our pristine environments and clean water and air, we taxpayers cannot afford to fund this mine. Sulfide mines like Copperwood almost always come with chemical spills and water toxicity,” said Emma Shedd, Forest Ecologist for Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “The funding approved today will not be the end for taxpayers, either. Larger tax bills to fund inevitable clean-up projects will also drag down the economy.”